MEET SOPHIE HUGHES OF THE STUDY SPACE ACADEMY
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MEET SOPHIE HUGHES OF THE STUDY SPACE ACADEMY
What inspired you to become a tutor?
As an experienced primary school teacher turned private tutor, passionate about helping children unlock their full potential. After years in the classroom, I realised how powerful one-to-one and small group teaching can be for building confidence and deepening understanding. I wanted to create a calm, nurturing environment where children feel seen, supported, and encouraged to love learning again. I’ ve worked with children from Nursery right through to Secondary school, so I have a clear understanding of where learning begins and what children need at each stage to help them reach their full potential. I love getting creative with both learning and the resources I use to support children. While that’ s more challenging in a classroom of 32 pupils, working in a small setting like Study Space Academy allows me to tailor my approach and really see the positive impact up close- something that’ s harder to experience in a traditional classroom environment.
What services do you offer, and who are they aimed at?
I offer high-quality primary tuition for children who need a confidence boost, subject support, or are aiming for academic excellence. I also specialise in Maths and English, helping children approach different concepts with skill and self-belief. In addition, I offer 11 Plus tuition for children who are ready to take on a new learning journey. Alongside my small group programmes and workshops, I run one-to-one booster sessions that focus on building resilience and independence of core skills and test techniques in an engaging and supportive way.
How does your experience as a primary school teacher influence your approach to tutoring?
Having taught across all primary year groups, I understand the curriculum inside out and know how to identify gaps and tailor lessons accordingly. More importantly, I bring a whole-child approach: supporting emotional wellbeing alongside academic progress. My teaching style is calm, creative, and responsive, and I always aim to make learning feel achievable and enjoyable.
What makes your tuition approach different or unique?
For me, it’ s never just about grades; it’ s about building confidence. I focus on creating strong, trusting relationships with both students and parents, and I make sure every child feels safe to make mistakes and learn from them. Each session is carefully tailored to the individuals, using a mix of visual, verbal, and hands-on approaches to keep learning engaging and accessible. I believe that providing a calm, supportive environment where children can be themselves is key to both their personal and academic growth— and that’ s exactly what I strive to offer. I also keep in close contact with parents, sharing regular updates and personalised advice to support progress every step of the way.
What do you enjoy most about working with children and helping them learn?
There’ s nothing more rewarding than seeing a child’ s face light up when something clicks or watching their confidence grow over time. I love being part of those‘ a-ha!’ moments, and I’ m always proud when pupils start believing in themselves and tackling challenges head-on.
Can you share a success story or proud moment from your tutoring work?
One of my proudest moments as a tutor was helping a young child who initially struggled with reading. They found it difficult to remember phonics sounds and had trouble focusing, even during short activities. But with a few weeks of gentle encouragement, consistency, and clear boundaries, they made incredible progress— moving from sounding out individual letters to reading words on sight and confidently reading simple sentences.
What do parents and pupils say about working with you?
Parents often comment on how much calmer and more confident their child becomes after just a few sessions. Many mention how I make learning fun and how I take the time to really understand their child. One parent even said“ Sophie has some sort of magic with helping children to understand their learning”. Pupils often tell me,“ You make things easier!” and I think that’ s the best compliment of all.
What advice would you give to parents looking for extra support for their child’ s learning?
Trust your instincts; if you feel your child is struggling or not reaching their full potential, early support can make a big difference. Look for a tutor who makes your child feel comfortable and confident. It’ s not just about the teaching, it’ s about the relationship and the emotional support that comes with it.
I’ m always happy to have a friendly, no-obligation chat to discuss how I can help. Just pop me a message or give me a call, I’ d love to hear from you.
Website: www. studyspaceacademy. com Social Media: @ StudySpaceAcademy Linktree: linktr. ee / studyspaceacademy
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